Chloe Aston shows potential with win at Horse of the Year Show

Teenager holds her nerve in a jump-off to claim victory in the Young Riders
Championship of Great Britain

Chloe Aston brought her first full season in the Under-21 show-jumping ranks to a triumphant close in Birmingham by winning the Young Riders Championship of Great Britain with Quiet Easy at the Horse of the Year Show.

The 18-year-old sealed victory in a jump-off with a lead of more than one second from former pony star Jessica Mendoza. Aston also won bronze at the European Under-21 championships in July yet has ridden her nine-year-old gelding only since May. “There were a lot of strong riders in the jump-off so we had to be very fast and I put my foot down,” she said.

Aston rides for the Quainton Stud near Aylesbury, long-term backers of world No 1 rider Ben Maher. She has always excelled when competing ahead of her age group.

At 14, when most are still on small ponies, she won the world championship for children riding horses. She rode on two Nations Cup teams this year and aims to further impress senior team manager Rob Hoekstra in the international classes at Birmingham that begin today. “I want him to pick me for two more Nations Cups this year,” she said.

This new competition showcases younger horses in the tiers just below Grand Prix or championship standard. Eilberg, whose father Ferdi and sister Maria, also rode for Britain plans to consolidate progress next season before upgrading.